We had a new baby—and the dark circles to prove it. Desperate for some coddling of our own, we booked an appointment with DeSimone, who has a reputation for healing fragile complexions. We told her we were nursing, and she prescribed a facial with natural products "safe enough to eat." She then lulled us to sleep with a 30-minute face massage, mixed a yogurt-and-flaxseed mask on the spot, and performed imperceptible extractions. As we left, we marveled at the difference: We'd arrived sallow and drained but departed radiant and relaxed.

Like a beautiful woman, the Shibui Spa wants to be respected for its mind, too. We did, but first we couldn't stop gawking at the indoor pool—a stunning lantern-lit grotto—which we soaked in until we pruned. When we were ready for our facial, our aesthetician led us to a treatment room, where she coddled our skin with biopeptide creams, an antioxidant-rich mask, and mild extractions. By the end, our glowing complexion had never looked more beautiful—or more brilliant.

Models including Amber Valletta and Iman get their glow from McDonald's facials, which leave skin radiant. So we thought it wise to go to her to treat our dark complexion, which can handle adventurous makeup shades, but rejects even the most timid skin products, turning rough and riled from face washes and fine scrubs. McDonald assessed the damage—dehydration and mild eczema—then got to work remedying it. After steaming, she performed a few extractions on our nose, then applied a creamy peel to draw gunk from more sensitive areas. We left with zero signs of irritation, and our face positively glowed—no electric pink lipstick necessary.

Martyn likes the color purple. Hints of it decorate every inch of her plush studio. But the new Purple Ray facial here is anything but frilly. Designed specifically for clients and celebrities (such as Kate Winslet and Julianna Margulies) who want to tackle signs of aging as well as the occasional breakout, this treatment gets its name from the simultaneous use of red and blue LED lights, which speed cell turnover and kill bacteria. After we spent 20 minutes under the rays, Martyn applied a hydrating mask, then ran noninvasive electrical currents over our face to boost circulation. To finish, she spritzed on a refreshing, peptide-rich oxygen mist. The result of all the effort: an immediate improvement in our skin's tone and texture.

Our skin felt so tight and dry, we flinched at the very thought of extractions. But our aesthetician promised to tread lightly. She washed our face with a milky cleanser and gently loosened flakes with a fine scrub. Our skin looked so refreshed, it was hard to believe it had ever hit a rough patch.

Amini first won us over with compliments ("Your skin is so lovely!"), then made us cringe after microdermabrasion, showing us the gunk collected in the machine's filter—not a pretty sight. But things took a more appealing turn when she cocooned our hands in paraffin-lined mitts and kneaded our arms and shoulders. After a graceful progression of cleansers, creams, and a peel, we left with pores so spotless and tight, we couldn't see them even if we wanted to.

Samardzic's traditional methods struck just the right chord. She made our skin pliable and soft with a few puffs of steam, then dislodged the blackheads from problem areas, such as our chin. To temper redness, she applied a cooling mask, then treated us to a massage, moving seamlessly from our temples to our chin. But the real high note? No postfacial breakouts.

When aestheticians flit off to another client—leaving us supine and stiff in a clay mask—we can't help but feel neglected. During our 75-minute session with Edwards, she remained by our side. After exfoliating, she moved on to extractions, using a touch so light that we floated right through them. She depuffed our eyes with a cucumber balm, then unfurled every knot in our shoulders. In the end, the only things that pulled a vanishing act were dullness and blackheads.

We arrived 15 minutes late for our appointment, flushed, sweaty, and full of excuses. Our aesthetician thawed our tension with a rhythmic face massage. To soothe our sensitive skin, she rubbed on a slippery blueberry cleanser and two hydrating masks (rose and pumpkin), then swaddled our feet in a warm towel. By extraction time, we were too comatose to feel so much as a pinch. An hour later, we left with inner peace and an outer glow.

When we heard that this spa had acquired a HydraFacial machine—a gadget that deep-cleans, exfoliates, unclogs pores, and hydrates skin in a matter of minutes—we eagerly booked the next available appointment. Our aesthetician shared our enthusiasm, explaining every step of the process. One by one, she applied layers of cleansing, brightening, and moisturizing products and drove them in with the machine's wand. Our skin had a healthy pink hue, but our color drained when we saw the bill. Sorry, how much for a 30-minute session?

We take facials seriously, so when we're asked to complete a form prior to our treatment, we fill it out faithfully. Too bad no one here seemed to have read it. We wrote that the blackheads on our chin were our principal concern, but our aesthetician skipped over them entirely. She went through the motions, washing, exfoliating, and moisturizing with mechanical efficiency, remaining tight-lipped throughout. This is one place that overlooks the details—even when they're written all over our face.

Normally we bring makeup with us to a facial so we can disguise the red aftermath of extractions. But Pfabe asked us to come with our entire skin-care regimen in tow. As she sorted through our myriad cleansers, masks, and prescription acne creams, she told us the harsh products were forming dry layers and "suffocating" our skin. That seemed a bit melodramatic, until she launched into microdermabrasion, erasing drab buildup right in front of our eyes. To quench our complexion, she swirled on hydrating serums and masks, then reduced inflammation with mild electrical currents. The best part? She showed us how to correctly use our products rather than pushing her own.

Most women reach a point in life when they must accept the truth: Froufrou facials just don't cut it anymore. That's where Prande comes in. After rinsing off peptide-rich creams and using a motorized brush to apply a grapefruit scrub, she passed a high-frequency wand over our face to help speed healing and neutralize bacteria. We emerged with noticeably brighter, smoother skin, and a week later, our blemishes were nonexistent. Prande really does mean business.

When Breault kicked off our facial with a Himalayan crystal massage to "release negative emotions from our chi centers," we contemplated a quick exit. But things came back down to earth when she used a microcurrent tool to tighten pores and increase collagen production. Next came a rainbow of LED lights. The facial was unorthodox, but our complexion was clear, glowing, and virtually lineless. That's the last time we judge a book by its...crystals.

There's nothing clichéd about giving stress-melting massages, radiance-boosting facials, or classic manicures. Especially when multiple mood-boosting beauty treatments are bundled into one insanely indulgent spa visit (and at a special rate, no less). Here are some of the best spa deals and packages in New York City this Mother's Day.

Boozy brunches and rose bouquets are nice, but pampering spa days are so much better. Here, the very best Mother's Day spa packages and deals in Los Angeles, including one decadent rooftop facial and the most tightness-releasing massage.

As it turns out, Belinda Carlisle was right: Heaven really is a place on earth. At least, that's how we feel about these sybaritic spa treatments, which are so blissfully mind-blowing that they're worth every penny.